Recent mass-marketed tunes comprise top singles

Apple has processed its 10 billionth iTunes song download, according to an announcement. The download occurred at about 4:30PM EST on Wednesday, notably coinciding with the 55th birthday of CEO Steve Jobs. Apple has not revealed which song crossed the 10 billion barrier, even though the buyer should win a $10,000 iTunes gift card.

The company is meanwhile highlighting a list of all-time bestselling singles, predominantly controlled by recent mass-market acts like the Black Eyed Peas, Lady GaGa and Katy Perry. Topping the chart is the Peas' "I Gotta Feeling." The rankings may be dictated less by genuine popularity than the coincidence of certain songs' debuts with the growth of iTunes, the iPod and the iPhone.

The iTunes Store has been active since 2003. It recorded its first billion songs in 2006, and 5 billion by 2008. While beginning with music, it has gradually expanded to include movies, TV shows, games and applications.

by MacNN Staff